TOMS RIVER, NJ Patch.com-- The discovery of threatening anti-Semitic graffiti that included the words "Burn the Jews" at the playground at Riverwood Park has drawn the condemnation of Toms River officials and sparked a bias crime investigation by the Toms River Police Department.
Toms River police were alerted to the existence of anti-Semitic graffiti on March 1, when The Lakewood Scoop published a report about the existence of the graffiti, said Ralph Stocco, spokesman for the Toms River Police Department. The report did not name the playground, and said the incident was reported to the Lakewood Civilian Patrol. Stocco said another news organization contacted the department to confirm the incident, but nothing had been reported to Toms River police.
Police then began working to identify which park and find the graffiti, Stocco said. It was located at the Riverwood Rodeo playground equipment at Riverwood Park, he said, and included the statement, "Burn the Jews," as well as several other foul words, all scratched into the equipment.
"Many (of the words) included obvious spelling errors," Stocco said. Within two hours the offensive phrase was removed by the Buildings and Grounds Department, he said.
“In Toms River, we have no tolerance for anti-Semitic attacks," Toms River Mayor Thomas H. Kelaher said. "We will not accept this reprehensible behavior. This action is being rightfully condemned and thoroughly investigated."
The incident occurred in the wake of growing tensions between local residents and the Orthodox Jewish community in Lakewood. The community's growing population has led to attempts to find homes in nearby towns, including Toms River, and has led to what Toms River officials have labeled unscrupulous real estate practices, including attempts at intimidating residents to sell their homes.
The Toms River Township Council passed an ordinance last week banning all real estate solicitations in the North Dover section of the township -- Riverwood Park falls within the areas covered by the cease-and-desist ordinance. The day after the ordinance was approved, a Lakewood man was arrested and charged with trespassing after he was found inside a home in one of the banned areas. He told police he had been told the home was in foreclosure and that he could look at it for the possibility of buying it.
Toms River police were alerted to the existence of anti-Semitic graffiti on March 1, when The Lakewood Scoop published a report about the existence of the graffiti, said Ralph Stocco, spokesman for the Toms River Police Department. The report did not name the playground, and said the incident was reported to the Lakewood Civilian Patrol. Stocco said another news organization contacted the department to confirm the incident, but nothing had been reported to Toms River police.
Police then began working to identify which park and find the graffiti, Stocco said. It was located at the Riverwood Rodeo playground equipment at Riverwood Park, he said, and included the statement, "Burn the Jews," as well as several other foul words, all scratched into the equipment.
"Many (of the words) included obvious spelling errors," Stocco said. Within two hours the offensive phrase was removed by the Buildings and Grounds Department, he said.
“In Toms River, we have no tolerance for anti-Semitic attacks," Toms River Mayor Thomas H. Kelaher said. "We will not accept this reprehensible behavior. This action is being rightfully condemned and thoroughly investigated."
The incident occurred in the wake of growing tensions between local residents and the Orthodox Jewish community in Lakewood. The community's growing population has led to attempts to find homes in nearby towns, including Toms River, and has led to what Toms River officials have labeled unscrupulous real estate practices, including attempts at intimidating residents to sell their homes.
The Toms River Township Council passed an ordinance last week banning all real estate solicitations in the North Dover section of the township -- Riverwood Park falls within the areas covered by the cease-and-desist ordinance. The day after the ordinance was approved, a Lakewood man was arrested and charged with trespassing after he was found inside a home in one of the banned areas. He told police he had been told the home was in foreclosure and that he could look at it for the possibility of buying it.